Started off really well. Everything was going good up to the first turn. Pack in front of me STOPPED in order to make the turn. Second turn pretty much went the same. A quarter of the way through, a pack of 3 in front of stopped and began to breast stroke. I swam around them, losing time and energy, which soon caused a problem. I found myself continously going off course to the left, my breathing side, which took me inside the bouys, causing me to continously correct myself and spend more energy. By the time the swim was done I was tire and felt horrible about my performance, I wasn't even out of the water yet. Got out and ran up hill to T1.

Man it's nice to be finally posting a triathlon RR!

Have more confidence in my swim and not start in the back. Need to practice more on sighting and technique so not to find myself constantly off course again.

Dead tired. Spent way too much energy on the swim. Too fast out, off course, excitement? Need more time in pool and open water. Had a lot of trouble getting lower half of wetsuit off. Some body glide would have helped.

Use all the tricks of the trade! Body glide etc.

Needed the first mile just to catch my breath and get my heartrate down. I was able to get into a good rythom and began to pass a few people as I was getting passed at the same time. Ended up witha "pack group", we took turns passing each other through most of the course. The course was flat for 3/4 of the race and ended with two nice size hills. On the first downhill I hit 40mph, that was just awesome, never been that fast before, no hills to train on of the size around here. On the uphill I ran in the back, not literally, of a mountain biker who was almost at a complete stop. Yea, that sucked. Made my way up and got ready for the final hill. Got up to 38mph. The uphill wasn't as steap, but definately was longer. Tackled that ok, all the while being passed by a guy with Zipp disc wheels, I can still hear the sound those whells make, got passed by a lot of them! Made my way in back to T2.

Up the pace a bit. Was using this race as a way to get to know triathlon and didn't push to my potential.

Lock laces might help, but not concerned at this time. Got shoes and visor on, took a shot of water and off I went.

Nothing at this point.

Let's just say that blisters really suck! Got some water and started off. Took about a mile to get my running legs working (not really a runner at this point, just started running 4 months ago, run Cleveland 10 at 10:43 pace- reference). At about 1.5 miles heals started burning bad, blisters, and they have already bust! started to walk and that didn't help one bit. By about the 2 mile mark may right heal was bleeding, and running was not comfortable at all. hit the 1.2 mile to go mark and had a mix of walk and run. Ran the final .5 in to the finish. Let's just say I was disappointed.

Not get blisters! Don't know when they started, bike or run, but it really impacted my run performance. I was hoping to finish the run in 33 min, but there's always the next race.

Got my heals repaired. Met up with the race director who also trained me since March. Talked a little and ate the post race spread. Got in the car for the 3 hour trek home.


Too worried about swim performance, and the blisters that developed. It was my first tri and was taking it all in as a learning experience. That it was!


Not sure what to expect, but it was a great time for me. The race sold out and many waited until race morning for their packets which caused about a 20 minute delay in the start.